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And as to the point early on in this thread about Mike hand-assembling these - it seems he has been, kind of! He's been spending sleepless nights programming the EPs, and they are beginning to sound very good indeed.

So, yes, thank you Mike, and I may well be another eager customer.

_________________________"you don't need to have been a rabbit in order to become a veterinarian"

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"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.

For those interested, the name of this tune is "Put it where you want it", originally from the Crusaders' '1' album (the first recorded without the band's 'Jazz' prefix). Here's a pretty cool (albeit heavily edited) live performance of the tune from 1974 (the Ali-Fraiser 'Rumble in the Jungle' concert):

I really love the the Jazz Crusaders late 60s and Crusaders early 70s sound...it's a shame there are not more live recordings and videos from this period.

Anyway, back on topic, the PX-5S sounds pretty impressive. Definitely going to have to seek this board out once it's launched in Japan.

Yup, Mike Martin says in the video that it can run on eight AA batteries...

At least noone saw it coming. And I can't imagine who would want it, either. Never seen a piano busker. Maybe it's a Japanese thing?

Yes, it's common to see youngsters (and sometimes oldsters) playing and singing out in public in Japan, especially outside train stations. Often these artists have their own cult following, selling CDs of their recordings. It's pretty cool. Definitely one of the things I love about this unique country.

And as to the point early on in this thread about Mike hand-assembling these - it seems he has been, kind of! He's been spending sleepless nights programming the EPs, and they are beginning to sound very good indeed.

I heard Mike has been busy hand-winding transformers for the power adapters and rolling foil and plastic for the capacitors. He's a very handy guy.

Yep - can run on 8 AA batteries... I've been waiting for years (decades) for a pro board (88 weighted keys) that's light weight (24 lbs) that can run on batteries!!!! Couple that puppy with a Roland KC-110 stereo keyboard amp (also runs on batteries) and you can play ANYWHERE!!! Great for outdoor parties. Thank you Casio, and thank you Mike Martin!! BTW: finally got to meet Mike in person at NAMM... great guy!

@Mike Martin ; if the PX5S is not in production yet, would it be possible at all to do something about the design esthetics before it runs of the production line ? Even if it was only making it all black that would already do a lo of good IMHO. My impression is that almost everyone is impressed by the keybed, sound and things the px can do, but hardly anyone praises how it looks. It's probably too late, but I'd thought I'd mention it anyway. Perhaps a better looking PX5 BK is already planned or some design (color?) tweaks have indeed been implemented before the production started, I don't know...

Ps was it a prototype at Namm ? That would perhaps explain why it looked so "patched and stitched together" on the YouTube reviews.

Don't get me wrong - I'm quite impressed by the PX5 (I was already pleasantly surprised by the normal PX series and the PX5 has filled in many request that remained, like good EP's) . It's just it's appearance that spoils it in my opinion - but perhaps it doesn't matter and it will sell anyway...

Even if it was only making it all black that would already do a lo of good IMHO.

Anything but all black! One of the worst things about the PX3 (and even worse on the black PX330) was that it was very difficult to quickly and reliably operate their black-on-black panels on a stage (or any environment without optimum lighting). The new design is a welcome functional improvement there.

Don't mean to jump on stylistic bandwagons but I'm gonna'. I owned the PX3 and the black on black look was extremely difficult to read(sorry JFP) in many environments. The new look is an improvement. Just my opinion:) Of course I haven't seen it in person. I have a question for those who have played it. Does the chassis seem firmer than the 350?.

Quote: "I owned the PX3 and the black on black look was extremely difficult to read(sorry JFP) in many environments. "

OK, point taken; perhaps not all black then, but at least 'something' to get rid of the toy-like / plastic look it now seems to have. There must be more classy color combinations, that are still readable in different circumstances, can't believe that this was the only possible design for Casio to come up with.

From a working angle I cannot really tell because that particular blue hue on white does not read accurately in photographs. It would be good if they added a light to the on/off button. The panel text and buttons are similar to those on the PX350 and I reach for the closest lit button instead of the unlit on/off button all of the time.

Located an image that can be enlarged quite a bit:

(Click to enlarge)

I don't think the color scheme looks any worse than the Yamaha MO or the Motif XS:

I don't think the color scheme looks any worse than the Yamaha MO or the Motif XS:

Yeah but they are just plain and boring ...not hideously and offensively ugly like the PX-5S ... but don't just go on the pictures and videos because in the flesh it looks even worse.

_________________________
"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.

Even if it was only making it all black that would already do a lo of good IMHO.

Anything but all black! One of the worst things about the PX3 (and even worse on the black PX330) was that it was very difficult to quickly and reliably operate their black-on-black panels on a stage (or any environment without optimum lighting). The new design is a welcome functional improvement there.

Function over form!

Casio seems to get "hands-on market research", "function over form" and "value for money". Perhaps they should make the PX5S even uglier to make sure it stands out and to bring the point home.... For example, thrifty retail stores such as ALDI have even found that their sales go down the nicer they make their stores look. A good looking store with labour-intensively mirrored shelves just doesn't match the idea of cheap. For many purchase decisions, the perception of a "good deal" unconsciously relies on picking up on cues that indicate that less money was obviously "wasted" on aesthetics or superficial, in-the-way of usability design.

At under 750 euros "self import" price, this board would seem to be destined to become the must have, good value, it does what you want it to do, ugly little keyboard you can't resist buying.

In the meantime many firms have grown really big with form over function marketing, whilst others who purely stuck to the function no-nonsens approach have faltered. Design IS an important part of the product as a whole these days - at least it will help boost sales a little more.

I agree that in basis the feature set and functional implementation of these features should be done well. But then the finishing step should still be design (actually it should be part of the whole product development process - you can't disconnect these two concepts).

Casio doesn't seem to care and due to the low price they will indeed sell anyway; but would it do any harm to have someone with a good eye and sense for classy design details have a say in the product development at Casio ? I doubt it would make these products much more expensive.

With this one I actually think it cost them MORE money to make it ugly then it would have to make it nice .... It's almost like they deliberately tried to make it as cheap and nasty looking as they could or ... Whoever designed it had absolutely no taste and neither did their guide dog.

_________________________
"I'm still an idiot and I'm still in love" - Blue Sofa - The Plugz 1981 (Tito Larriva) Disclosure : I am professionally associated with Arturia but my sentiments are my own only.